Coach Skip Holtz isn't the only prominent member of the Bulls football family with a father cheering against his usual loyalties this season. Just as former Irish coach Lou Holtz was rooting for the Bulls against Notre Dame, this week Bruce Daniels, father of Bulls QB B.J. Daniels, above, will proudly cheer for a loss for Florida A&M … his employer.

For the past two years, the elder Daniels has worked as the booking coordinator for the Al Lawson Center, FAMU's campus basketball arena in Tallahassee, helping line up sporting events, concerts and speakers such as former President Bill Clinton. There's no question who he's pulling for today. He said his colleagues at FAMU know his son's talents well, going back to his days at Tallahassee Lincoln High.

"They'll be a supportive group; B.J.'s kind of a hometown hero around these parts," the elder Daniels said. "They're kind of torn. Their attitude is pretty much 'Tell B.J. to have mercy on us; don't hurt us too bad,' that kind of stuff."

Bruce Daniels said his parents and two daughters will be among the family members attending tonight's game at Raymond James Stadium. He sees a new confidence in his son and said that comes from being in the same offense for a second straight season.

"It's a matter of him understanding what's expected of him. I think he has a clear understanding now," he said. " … Summer was real big for him. I know it's paying great dividends for him."

Bruce Daniels actually has plenty of experience pulling against FAMU; he's a Bethune-Cookman graduate, so he has been on the opposite end of the schools' annual rivalry. Asked if he's looking forward to tonight, he said his eyes are focused farther down the road.

"I'm looking forward to USF winning the Big East, to be honest," he said.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

By the numbers: ACC edition

4 ACC home games today against nonleague ranked opponents.

2-12 ACC record last season against nonconference ranked opponents.

31 Consecutive losses by ACC teams to nonleague opponents ranked among the top five at kickoff. The last such win was Florida State's thumping of No. 4 Florida in 2000.

580 Media credentials issued for today's FSU-Oklahoma game.

Newport News (Va.) Daily Press, Orlando Sentinel. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Ohio State and Miami meet tonight in a game dubbed the "IneligiBowl." Ohio State interim coach Luke Fickell hoped his players could avoid the discussions about nonfootball issues after a close call at home against Toledo last weekend. • "Our guys have been through it time and time again," he said. "There's always going to be distractions in Columbus or Miami. It's handling those things that ends up defining a team. … It comes down to what you guys write and what they talk about on ESPN or whatever station, and what (the players) let sink into their heads." • Both teams are dealing with suspensions, but host Miami will regain the services of starting QB Jacory Harris. • The NCAA reinstated three Buckeyes — RB Jordan Hall, CB Travis Howard and S Corey Brown — who were suspended for accepting $200 in cash in an envelope from a university booster while attending a charity event earlier this year.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

By the numbers: SEC edition

6 Players in last week's Auburn-Mississippi State game who had more than 100 all-purpose yards.

7 League teams averaging 40 or more points per game.

87 Combined points in South Carolina's 45-42 win over Georgia, the most in the history of the series.

103 Points scored by Arkansas, the Razorbacks' highest total through two games since 1911.